The Mindanao organic rice will be exported to U.S next month, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) assistant secretary Romeo Montenegro said.
Moreover, there are 500 bags of organic rice at 50 kilos per bag produced by farmers of North Cotabato-based Don Bosco Multipurpose Cooperative are being prepared for a trial shipment.
The high demand of the organic rice is attributed by the rising health-conscious Americans (Full report here: https://www.trending.ph/2019/12/organic-rice-production-in-mindanao-is-set-as-a-priority/ ).
Respectively, South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao del Sur will be the supplier when the regular shipment will begin in the month of April.
Report from MindaNews stated that around 300 hectares of organic rice will be involved for the exportation. However, it was not yet identified the exact numbers of farmers which will be involve for the production.
“To support rice production, a sorghum development program had been piloted in Davao del Norte, implemented in partnership with a US-based company, Scott Seeds, which will be propagated later on in several areas across Mindanao, including SOCCSKSARGEN and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” Montenegro added.
Further, Davao del Norte was chosen as the pilot area for the sorghum project. This will give additional source of income to the affected banana farmers who suffered from big losses due to Panama disease.
Montenegro emphasized that MinDA will focus on the rural agricultural development this year.